La Liga Lowdown - European D-DAY in Europa League preview

As for red headed step child of European club competitions, the Europa League (#UEL) . . .

Wednesday’s Matches (12/15)

Villarreal @ Club Brugge

Group D

	Clubs	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	Pts
1	Villarreal CF	5	3	0	2	6	4	2	9
2	PAOK FC	5	2	2	1	4	3	1	8
3	NK Dinamo Zagreb	5	2	1	2	4	4	0	7
4	Club Brugge KV	5	0	3	2	3	6	-3	3

The Yellow Submarine are though to the knockout and travel to Brugge. A win=group winners. A draw, possible first, possibly second. A loss and their position depends on the result of other game.

Obligatory Jozy update: Villarreal had a strong squad in their last UEL match against Zagreb, which they won 3-0. They were only missing Nilmar, and yet Jozy still couldn’t get in as a sub. I expect big minutes against Brugge.

RESULT: The Yellow Submarine came back from a goal down to win 2-1, thanks to two goals from Rossi. They go through as group winners and PAOK defeated Zagreb to finish second.

Sevilla v Borussia Dortmund

Group J

	Clubs	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	Pts
1	Paris Saint-Germain FC	5	3	2	0	8	3	5	11
2	Sevilla FC	5	3	0	2	8	5	3	9
3	Borussia Dortmund	5	2	2	1	8	5	3	8
4	FC Karpaty Lviv	5	0	0	5	3	14	-11	0

Los Rojiblancos host Borussia Dortmund in a game for the runner up spot in group. Sevilla would have to win and PSG lose for them to win the group, but PSG will probably beat Karpaty. Additionally the Parisians have the head to head over Dortmund.

RESULT: A 2-2 draw saw Sevilla progress to the knockout stage as runner up, and considering their recent run of form (five straight losses in all competitions), this has to be the result of the day. Dortmund, flying high in the Bundesliga, crashes out.

Thursday’s Matches (12/16)

Atletico Madrid @ Bayer Leverkusen

Group B

	Clubs	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	Pts
1	Bayer 04 Leverkusen	5	3	2	0	7	1	6	11
2	Aris Thessaloniki FC	5	2	1	2	5	5	0	7
3	Club Atlético de Madrid	5	2	1	2	8	6	2	7
4	Rosenborg BK	5	1	0	4	3	11	-8	3

Los Colchoneros travel to Leverkusen, where they must better Aris Thessaloniki’s result because Aris has 4-2 aggregate edge over the holders. Should be squeaky bum time for Forlan and Co.

RESULT: The holders crashed out of the competition with a 1-1 draw in freezing conditions at the BayArena. Leverkusen scored the opener which was almost immediately equalized through Merida. Didn't matter because Aris cruised to 2-0 win. Pressure squarely back on QSF.

Getafe v Young Boys

Group H

	Clubs	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	Pts
1	VfB Stuttgart	5	4	0	1	11	5	6	12
2	BSC Young Boys	5	3	0	2	10	9	1	9
3	Getafe CF	5	1	1	3	3	8	-5	4
4	Odense BK	5	1	1	3	7	9	-2	4

Getafe host a dead rubber against Young Boys. (Insert own joke here.) Getafe cannot progress and Stuttgart has a 5-4 aggregate lead so Young Boys cannot win the group.

RESULT: Getafe ended the campaign with a 1-0 victory over Young Boys. That is all.

The UEFA CUP errrr . . . Europa League is where the drama is at. Only one of the 4 teams is out and only 1 team is through. The other two will be fighting for their lives. Let’s go to Shep Messing for a live look in.